Method and apparatus for making maps



Dec. 21, 1937. v 1 c, w. COLLIER ,6 l METHOD Ali D ABPARATUS' FOR MAKING MAPS Filed Dec. 10, 19.55 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I M "E5 Y I AZ'TORNEK.

Dec .21, 1931.

c.' w. COLLIER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING MAPS Filed Dec. 10. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/v l/EN TOR CHARLEG W. COLL/ER Patented Dec. 21, 1937- T UNIT D STATE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING MAPS Charles W. Collier, Alexandria, Va., assignor to Fail-child, Policy & Eliel, Inc., Iros Calif., a corporation of California Angeles,

Application December 10, 1935, Serial No. 53,791

. 14 Claims.

My invention relates to cartography and relates in particular to a method and apparatus for the assembling or' production of mosaic maps and line maps from aerial photographs.

My present invention constitutes an improvement over the method of making maps from.

I aerial photographs generally known as the radial .making are reduced to a comparatively small line method, the "Bagley' method, the Arundel method, radial triangulatiometc. The general principles of the method on or over which the invention is an improvement are well known to the art, and accordingly the general method above referred to will be mentioned or described herein only as it becomes necessary torefer to the same for the purpose of explaining my diflerences, improvements, and advantages over the existing art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for making maps from aerialphotographs, in which the need for elaborate instruments, such as radial triangulators, is avoided, wherein the large amount of control established by field survey in the conventional graphical method of. aerial map making and the consequent cost thereof are avoided, wherein the tedious labor and cumulative errors as in the mathematical method of aerial map value, and in which'the work may in the most part be performed by relatively unskilled operators as compared with the large amount of skill required in the known methods of aerial map formation or assembly.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for the assembling of maps from aerial photographs which is very'simple and at the same time very rapid; which is less subject to I readily adapted to specified requirements and cumulative errors than the known methods owing to the fact that large blocks or sections are'laid out and adjusted simultaneously; which may be may be readily made to conform to the desired tolerances; and which is self-checking and therefore substantially fool-proof.

It is a furtherobiect of the invention to pro- I vide a simple form of templet .which constitutes map area. Herein the term map area design'ates an area of the ground or terrain, or any photograph or picture thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a templet representative of a map area, in which the characteristic angles of the map area are represented by mechanical guide means form-. ing a part of the templet. In the preferred practice of the invention the characteristic angles are defined by slots which radiate from the central point of the templet in centralized relation to the outlying points of the map area of which the templet is a representation.

' It is a further object of the invention to provide a templet of the above character and adjustable means for holding these templets together with the radial lines thereof in proper cooperative relation and in such a manner that an adjusting relative movement of two connected templets will automatically produce a proportionate movement of the other templets con nected thereto. 1

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and means for forming slots in a templet of the above character in centralized relation to the outlying, points and-in' radial re lation to the principal center'point.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a section of a.

ter point and outlying points thereon taken from the photograph of'Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a viewshowing the templet after it has been slotted. 1

Fig. .5 is a partly sectioned elevational view showing the device for slotting the templet, with a templet thereon in position for slotting! Fig. Bis a bottom plan view of the punch or cutter employed in the device shown in Fig. 5..

Fig. 'I ha view showing'a'number of templets placed on a mountingboard;

Flg'. 8-is a perspective-view of a conjoin'ing post forming a part of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 7, this view showing the manner in which points established by the positions of the conjoining postaretransierredtoareierencepaper andto the mounting board.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a mounting board with reference pins.

In Fig. 1 a view II, looking downwardly on a portion of a town, is shown, this view or area II overlap. Accordingly, in Fig. 1 I have, by dotted lines, outlined overlapping square areas I 2, I3, and

ll of which it may be assumed that photographs. have been taken.

In Fig. 2 I show a photograph Ila of the area ll of Fig. l. The picture shown on this photograph ill: I have chosen to call a map area, since it constitutes an area of a map and is namely a copy of the map area ll of Fig. 1. Likewise, it may be stated that the photograph Ila is a map area representative of the area ll of Fig. I regardless of the scale of the photograph. In other words, the photograph Ila' may be enlarged or reduced, but it will still continue to be the same map area. This should be clearly understood from the following explanation.

Around the principal center point, or actual center point Ii of the photograph Ila, which center point may be established by the lens of the camera, eight outlying center points- I are marked on the photograph Ila at clearlyrecognizable points of the picture presented by the photograph Ila. These outlying points I6 are preferably pricked on the photograph by means of a prick punch. Two of the points II are'disposed jto the front and to the rear of the principal center point I5 and may be respectively termed the forward secondary center point and the rearward secondary center point" as respectively indicated at I! and II. On opposite sides of;

the principal center point Ii lateral wing points Ware located, and on opposite sides of the forward secondary .center point Il forward wing points II are located; Likewise, on oppodte sides oi secondary center point I! wing lIfradiailineslla-repan edthrowheachofthe outlying'points II andthe principal center point II, thue radial lineswilldeflne central anglesa.

'Should the photograph Ila be now placed inan enlarging camera, the lens of which is central ized with the principal center point" II, andan enlargement of the photograph Ila made, such as.- indicated'byadottedlines-lt, every point or part around the principal center pain iioi thepicturepruentedbythephoto'gnph Ila will move outwardly. Mr example, the outlying points I will all move to the positions or points II, The central anglesa will remain unchanged, and the outlying points It. 0! the eflrgement ll will continue to define these central angle: a for the reason that they continue on theradial lines ll. Accordinglmthe centr'lianglesa'andthepositionsoitherldial linu ll aroundjhe II are a characteristic oi the maparea represented by the photograph Ila, the enlargement thereof, 7 or an other enlargement or recitation thereof,

over the photograph and by use of a prick punch pricking the points II and I6 in the surface of the templet 2.. To definitely establish the positions of these points on the templet ll, small circles ll are drawn around the same. As shown in Fig. 4, a small center hole iSh is punched concentric with the point I! appearing on the templet li, as

' shown in Fig. 3. Then, central slots I1; and Ils,

lateral slots I93, forward wing slots M3, and rearward wing slots lls are respectively punched in positions extending radially with respect to the central hole Iih and concentric with the respective points II, II, I9, ll, and ll shown in Fig. 3.

readily accomplished by placing the templet l8 The slots have a width corresponding to the diam- I eter of the opening Ilh, and since the positions 01' these slots are determined by the positions oi 1 the outlying points; I6, they establish the same radial lines 23 and central angles a as those appearingon the photograph or map, area Ila. Since Ihave stated that the central angles a, and likewise the podtions ofthe radial lines 23 of the photograph Ila, constitute a lcharacteristic or characteristics of the map area represented by the photograph Ila, it may be'said that the central hole Iih and the radial slots Ils, Ils, its, lIs, and lls of the templet in Fig. 4 are representative of the characteristics of the map area; or, in other words, the templet shown in Fig. '4 may be said to be representative of the map area presented by the photograph Ila or centralized enlargement or reduction thereof, for the reason that if the templet ll is nowpiaced over the photograph 'Ila with'the-opening Ilh concentric with I the principal center point II, each of the outlying imorthsmeumma wutbemm altitude of the serieeof consecutive area from which. amapistobemade, thesamescalewillnot be preservedinallofthephot'ograpln; 'lhetemplet, oithecharactershowninlimgmadei'rcm the variousphctographs, is d composite or multiple scale,since itspreserihedlimitatiomare the'centralanglu a deiining.thcpoaitions of the radial pldgwhen'ananhiedonthembimtingboardh of photographs, tor the diiferences inscaleoithephctusraphs'whichhavebeentaken froman 1 InngJIshowasimpleiormoithedevice ioriormimthesbtsinthetemplets. 'rnisdevicehas' aflattablellprcvidedwith'a airport the pimch'll isguided so that it may moveverti- 70' ll foraslotflngcattu-orpnnchllhavum itsv lowerorcuttingiac'ellmalonganaxis 'b-basshowninl'ig. 6. 31,118,},

cllmandaetustingmeamareprwidsdintbe base 30, as indicated'by the numeral 4].

connected to the upper end of the punch 32 by means of alink 31. The punch 32 has a centralizing pin 38 projecting downwardly from' the center'of the'face33 thereof, and the lower por-- tion of the punch 32 is adapted to pass into a die or opening 39 formedin the base 30 so that a slot will be punched in a templet placed on the The base 30 has guide means in the form of a slot 42 in the upper face thereofaligned with the axis bb of the cutter 32. In this slot a post 43 is slidably carried so that it maybe moved to and from the cutter 32. Y In the operation of slotting a templet, the templet'is placed with the center hole I5h thereof over the post 43, and the templet and post 43 are then moved until an outlying point 16 is concentric with the lower end or point of the pin 38. The handle isvactuated downwardly to force the punch 32 through the templet, thereby forming a slot therein, which slot will be centralized relative to the outlying point l6 and will likewise be radially directed with respect to the center opening l5h. In Fig. 7 I show the templet 26 placed upon a sheet of paper 44 which is secured to a mounting board 45 to constitute a control surface. In overlapping relation I also show templets 46 and 41 placed on the sheet of paper 44, these templets 46 and 41 being representative of the map areas I I3 and I4 of Fig. 1 and having been prepared from photographs taken of the areas [3 and I4, in the manner described relative to Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The templets 26, 46, and 41 .are connected together by means of conjoining posts 48, each of the lower end of the stem 48. A guide opening 50 is extended vertically through each post 48, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Each post, indicated at 48a, 48b, or 480, passes through the center opening l5h of a templet 26, 46, or 41 respectively, and each of the pins or posts 46a, 48b, and 460 passes also either a forward slot "s, a rearward slot I88,

or both, of an adjoining templet or templets. For example, the post 48a passes through the rearward slot l8s of the templet 46, the post 48b passes through the forward slot "s of the templet 26, then upwardly through the central opening l6h of the templet 46, and finally through the rearward slot is of the templet 41. The post 480 passes upwardly through the forward slot lie of the templet 46 and then through the central opening I57; of the templet 47. A post 43 is projected upwardly through each lateral wing slot 89s of each templet 26', 46, and 4| Such a post, as indicatedat 43d in Fig. '7, will pass. through a lateral wing slot we and also through a rearward wing slot 22s, the slots its and 22s I 7 being respectively in the templets 2 5 and 46. The

post. indicated specifically as 43c passes through the forward wing slot 2ls of the templet 26 I through the lateral wing slot 06s of the templet 46, and through the rearward wing slot Meet the templet :41. It will be understood that the row of templets started by the three templets 26, 46, and 47, of Fig. '7, may be continued by the placing of consecutive templets in overlapping relation, and it will he further understood that wherever three templets overlap, as upon the line 9-4 of Fig. 7 or as shown in Fig. 9, a post 48 will pass throughthe. threeoverlapping portions of such templets, and the position of the '7 be movedrelatively together or apart along theline c'c of Fig. 7, the remaining templet must be proportionately moved, and likewise the:

posts 48 indicated specifically as 48a, 48b, and 480 will be moved proportionately. For example,

should the templets 26 and 41 be moved relatively apart, the change in the position of the slots He and 22s through which the post indicated at 46c is projected will cause movement of the 'post 48c laterally outwardly in proportion to the movement of the templets 26 and 41. i

In assembling a group of templets on a mounting board, it is customary to locate several reference 'pointsupon the mounting. board, the positions of which are determined by ground survey.

For example, I have shown in Fig. 10 reference pins 52 and 53 driven into a mounting board 45b on which a reference paper 4412 is placed, the pins 52 and 53 passing through the paper 44b and forming small holes therein indicating their positions. The pins 5|, 52, and 53 are spaced apart in accordance with the desired scale to which the map is to be assembled. A strip 54 of tem-. plets 26, 46, 41, and additional templets 55, is

assembled upon the reference paper 44b. The. post 48a is placed over the pin 5|, and then the strip 54 of templets is either lengthened or shortened,. as requirements may be, to bring the post 48f into such position that it will surround the pin 52 which represents the proper position'for this post 48f. In the elongating or shortening of the strip 5.4, the'cooperative action of the posts,- center holes, and slots causes a proportionate movement of all of the posts so that the positions of the posts will'in'dicate the outlying points and center points of the connected templets to the scale established by the reference pins'5l and 52, all within the tolerance established by the fit of the posts in the openings and slots of the templets.

There may be three rows of posts interconnecting the templets of a strip as shown in Fig. 7, but only two rows, the center row and one of the outside rows, are necessary to interlock the templets of a strip. In fact, in Fig. 7 the only essential posts are 46a, 43b, 48c and either one of the two posts 48c. If there is a post through the central aperture of each templet of a strip and a post of the outside'row through each com,- bination of three overlapping templets, the strip will. be interlocked and may be extended or contracted in a coordinated manner. When the strip is so extended or contracted, cam action on the part of the slots causes the posts to move away from or towards each other proportionately.

If. any given post is selected as a reference point for movement of the other posts, it will be found that all the other posts, or slot intersections where there are no posts will move radially with respect to the given post. It will be apparent, then, that the advantage of slots over mere lines on the templets is first in the fact that means such as the posts may engage the slots to interlock the templets, and, second, that the slots not so engaged will intersect to provide indicating apertures through which reference points may be plotted directly onto the mounting board.

A second strip of templets, as indicated at 5%,

may be assembled and placed along the side the strip 54 in overlapping relation to the edge of the strip 54- as shown, and the proper post indicated at g is caused to reside upon the pin The assembly of the templets upon the mounting board 45b may be continued by the formation of adjacent strips and the placing of the same in overlapping relation to the previously adjusted strip of templets. Additional reference when conjoined-with the remaining templets'b'yuse of posts 48. This condition provides an automatic check on the accuracy of the templets and makes it possible to quickly correct one or more templets, as may be required, and greatly speeds up the preparation of a mounting board so that photographs constituting separate map areas may be secured thereto in properly related positions.

After the desired assembly of templets is made upon the paper b, pins such'as the marking pin shown in Fig. 9 are passed through openings 50 in selected posts as, and are driven through the paper b into the board 451), thereby marking in the paper and in the board the positions of the points represented by the posts 48. The number of pins used is somewhat at the discretion of the map maker, but ordinarily each'center point of the templet must be marked upon the paper b and the board lib, together with a suitable number of outlying points so that the positions of the templets will be definitely marked upon the mounting. board 45b and the paper b which is to be subsequently used for the purpose of correcting the sizes of the photographs from which the templets have been prepared, so that such photographs may be secured in properly spaced relation onthe mounting board "D.

It is customary to number the photographs in consecutive order and to correspondingly number the templets which are prepared therefrom. On the reference paper b and the mounting board 45b the marked center points are likewise numbered. The photographs are then checked against the dimensions established by the points marked upon the reference paper, and enlargements and reductions are then made thereof as required. so that the final photographs which are to be mounted upon the mounting board lib will have This correction of the photographs is aceom--.

plished by measuring the distances between several points on each photograph and comparing the same with the measurements of distances between the corresponding points which have been marked on the reference paper 6 by the passage of pins Iltherethroughr The'proper size of the final photograph in each instance is then computed, and from the original photographic negative' final photographs to a mean scale-are prepared by use of an enlarging and reducing printer or camera. The final photographs are then trimmed and mounted upon the mounting board 15b in the positions indicated by the penetration of the points'of the pins 60 into the surface of the mounting board 45b.

In the construction of line maps or planimetric maps, the same procedure in locating and record-- ing the positions of the center points'and outlying points is followed as in the construction of mosaic maps.

7 Previously herein I have indicated thedimeters of theposts 48, the holes lih, and the slots lls, lls, etc., as corresponding. By this I do not mean that these dimensions shall be exactly the same but that they shall have a correspondence within the limits of the working conditions selected or the tolerances adopted. Accordingly, the variations may be at times relatively large.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the 1. A templet representative of a map area and its central angles, said templet having mechanical guide means operative along the radial lines defining said central angles, said guide means having the function of connecting a second similar templet to said templet so that said radial lines of said templets will intersect at points spaced apart proportionately to the spacing of corresponding points on said map area;

2. A templet representative of a map area having radial slots therein defining the central angles of said maparea, and conjoining means adapted '4. A templet representative of a map area, saidtemplet having a central perforation defining the main center point of said map. area and radial slots defining the central angles of said map area, and posts adapted to be passed through said central opening and said slots of said templet to connect the same toa templet of similar character.

5. ,A templet representative of a map area, said main center point of said map area and radial slots defining the central angles of said map area, and posts adapted to be passed through said central opening and said slots of said templet to connect the same 'to a templet of similar character. said posts having means for holding them substantially perpendicular to the plane of said,

templeta;

6. In map making means of the character de- 55, templet having a central perforation defining the scribed, a templet having slots representative of with a post comprising a stem adapted .to pass through a slot-in said templet, and a flange formin'ga base tor-said stem.

7. A templet representative of a map area havingoutlyins points defining central angles, said the central angles of a map area, in combination templet having mechanical guide means defining saidcentral angles, and conjoining means operative between certain of said to adjustably'connect said templet to adjoining templets of similar character, said conjoining means being movable along said guide means.

8. A templet representative of a map area having outlying points defining central angles, said templet having mechanical guide means defining said central angles, and conjoining means operative between certain of said guide means to adjustably connectsaid templet to adjoining tem-.

plets of similar character, said conioining means being movable along said guide means, said ccn- Joining means also engaging said mechanical guide means so as to have a small lateral move.- ment.

9. A templet representative of a map area having radial slots therein defining the central angles of said map area, and conjoining means adapted to be passedthrough said slots to adjustably connect said templet to adjoining templets ofsimilar character, said conjoining means being movable lengthwise of said slots so as to occupy positions indicating the points of intersection of crossing slots and also having a small'lateral movement relative to said slots.

10. A templet representative of a map area, said templet having means defining the center point of the area and mechanical means defining central angles interrelating outlying reference points of the area whereby the templet may be interlocked with other templets having similar mechanical means related to said reference points.

11. A methodof the character described for locating points for map purposes, including the steps of taking a series of photographs of consecutive overlapping areas including basic reference points for which map data are known; formtending through the center holes and at least some intersecting slots of overlapping templets, thereby interlocking the templets for coordinated extension or contraction; and adjusting said series of templets to cause the interconnecting means atslot intersections that correspond with said ploted basic reference points on the control surface to register with said plotted points, thereby placing on the control surface the remaining interconnecting means and slot intersections at positions with respect to said basic reference points corresponding to said desired scale.

12. A method of the character described for locating points for map purposes, including the steps of taking a series of photographs of consecutive overlapping areas including basic reference points for which map data are known; forming templets representative ofsaid photographs, each templet having a hole representing the centerpoints of the corresponding photograph and. having slots radial to the hole representing angular relationships among outlying reference points of the photograph, said outlying points including said basic reference pointsyplotting said basic bling said templets on said control surface in the sequence of the corresponding photographs; interconnecting said templets by a plurality of connecting member's adapted to slide on the control surface and to extend through overlapping templets insliding engagement with intersecting slots thereof, said members representing reference points corresponding to theslots, therebyinterlocking the templets for coordinated extension or contraction on the control surface; and adjusting said series of templets to cause the connecting members that correspond with said plotted basic reference points on the control surface to register therewith, thereby moving on the control surface the remaining connecting members and slot intersections to positions with respect to said basic reference points corresponding to said desired scale.

13. A method of thecharacter described for producing a photographic map, including the steps of: taking a series of photographs of consecutive-overlapping areas includingbasic reference points for which map data are' known;- forming templets representative of said photographs, each templet having a hole representing the center point of the corresponding photograph and having slots radial tothe hole representing angular relationships among outlying reference points of the photograph, said outlying points including said basic reference points; plotting said basic reference points on a control surface at cations spaced in accordance with a desired scale; assembling said templets on said control surface in the sequence of the corresponding photographs; interconnecting said templets by a plurality of means representing said reference points and extending through the center holes and at least some intersecting slots of overlapping templets, thereby interlocking the templets for coordinated extension or contraction; adjusting said series of templets to cause the interconnecting means that correspond with said plotted basic reference points on the control surface to register-therewith, thereby placing on the control surface the remaining interconnecting means and slot intersections at positions with respect to said basic reference points corresponding to said desired scale; substituting for the templets at their adjusted locations the corresponding photographs; and correcting by enlargement orreduction any photograph that does not show its outlying reference points spacedin accordance with the corresponding interconnecting means and slot intersections.

14. A method of the character described for producing a. photographic map, including the steps of: taking a series of photographs of consecutive overlapping areas including basic reference points for which map data are known; forming templets representative of said photographs, each templet having a hole representing the center point of the corresponding photograph and having slots radial to the hole representing angular relationships among outlying reference points of the photograph, said outlying points including said basic reference points; plottingsaid basic reference points on'a control surface at locations spaced in accordance with a desired scale; assembling said templets on said control -surface in the sequence of the corresponding photographs; interconnecting said templets by a plurality of connecting members adapted to slide on the control surface and to extend bers representing reference points corresponding to the slots, thereby interconnecting the templets for coordinated extension or contraction on the control surface; adjusting said series of templets to cause the connecting members that correspond with said plotted basic reference points to register therewith} thereby moving on the control surface the remaining connecting members and slot intersections to positions with respect to ,said basic reference points corresponding to 

